Container



Dec. 14, 1937. H, S ELL 2,102,440

CONTAINER 1 Filed July 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F1 1. m2. l0 l7lnvenTor.

Harry SebeH WM M&W

ATT s H. SEBELL Dec. 1+2, 1937 CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 20,1935 Harry sebell I I b mmdw Patented Dec. 14, 1937 PATENT OFFICECONTAINER Harry Sebell, Boston, Mass., assignor of one-half to Arthur B.Parker, Lexington, Mass.

Application July 20,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to containers having a body portion, which may beof glass or other vitreous material, and a closure member of sheet metalfor closing the open top of the container.

. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a closure for thecontainer which is so constructed that when the closure is first appliedto the body portion it will seal the open top thereof and when thecontainer has been opened the closure member or a portion thereofremains permanently hinged to the body portion, thereby making a hingedcover by which the open top of the body portion can be closed again.

While the invention is applicable to containers of differentconstruction and of different material, yet it has special advantages inconnection with containers in which the body portion is made of glass orsome other vitreous material having a bead at its top and the closure isprovided with a skirt portion which encircles and is sealed tightly tosaid bead.

In order to give an understanding of the invention I have illustrated inthe drawings some selected embodiments thereof which will now bedescribed after which the novel features will be pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings;

Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5 illustrate various steps in the formation of aclosure embodying one-form oi the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the upper portion of a containerhaving my improved closure applied thereto.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the closure after it has been tornalong the line of weakness thereby providing the hinged replaceablecover.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the upper part of a container havinga closure embodying my invention but of difierent construction from thatshown in Figs. 1 to 7, said section being taken on substantially theline 8-8, Fig. 10.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing the closure member afterit has been torn along the line of weakness to form a hinged cover, saidbody being taken on substantially the line '99, Fi 10.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the upper part of a container having aclosure of the construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view showing a different embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 12 is another fragmentary view showing still another embodiment oithe invention.

1935, Serial No. 32,389 (01. 215-46) Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectionalview on the line l3-l3, Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 13 but showing adifierent embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 15 is a horizontal sectional view along the line of weakness in acontainer having the construction shown in Fig. 14.

Referring first to Figs. 6 and '7, the reference numeral I indicates thebody-portion of a container and 2 the closure member therefor. The bodyI may be of any suitable material and for purposes of illustration Ihave indicated it as of glass or some other vitreous material, said bodyportion being provided with an opening 3 in its upper end and having abead I at its top.

The closure member 2 is made of sheet metal and it may be sealed to thebody member in any usual way. As herein shown the closure member isformed with a skirt portion 5 which en circles the bead 4 and the bottomedge 6 of which is crimped underneath the bead. The closure is alsoformed with the depending flange portion l which fits within the opening3 of the container -body, said flange portion 1 being connected to theskirt portion 5 by an annular portion 8 which overlies the top' edge ofthe bead 4.

If an. hermetic seal is desired then a suitable gasket or packingmaterial 9 may be'employed between the top edge of the head 4 and theoverlying portion 8 of the closure.

, When the closure is made it is provided with a line of weaknessindicated at I 0 which nearly, but not quite, encircles the top of thebody. This line of weakness may be formed by scoring the sheet metal soas to weaken it at the score line as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 or theline of weakness may be employed by thinning the sheet metal of theclosure along the prescribed line in any suitable or approved way. Inthe embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7 this score line orline of weakness I0 is formed at the junction of the annular portion 8with the depending flange I.

I have stated above that this line of weakness nearly, but not quite,encircles the open top of the body. The score line is shown as extendingfrom the point ll around to the point l2, the points i I and I2 beingslightly spaced from each other so as to leave a non-weakened portion l3between the ends of the line of weakness.

In making the closure 9. suitable circular blank is first deformed asshown in Fig. 1 to present the flat circular central portion H, thedepending cylindrical portion IS. the upwardly curved annular portion l8and the flat radially extending peripheral flange portion l1. During thedeforming of the blank to produce the shape shown in Fig. 1 the scoreline or other line of weakness Il may be formed at the junction of theupturned portion I 6 and the peripheral flange l1. The closure is thenfurther deformed by pressing the upturned portion it against thedepending circular portion to form the depending flange I of theclosure. The next step is further deforming of the closure to producethe annular to flt within the opening 8 in the top of the container bodyand the closure as formed in Fig. 5 is applied and sealed to the body Iby assembling it with the body and then folding the flange l1 to formthe skirt portion 5 which encircles the bead 4 of the body andsubsequently crimping the edge 8 of the skirt underneath the bead 4, itbeing understood that the packing or sealing element 9 will be appliedeither to the closure or to the top edge of the body portion 8 beforethe skirt is crimped to the body..

In order to open the container having this closure a suitable implement,such as a screw driver or even a coin or its equivalent, niay beinserted in the space 28 between the flange l8 and the annular portion 8at a point removed a proper distance from either end of the line ofweakness, and by applying a sufllcient prying force upwardly against theflange I! by means of such implement or coin the closure will be tornalong the line of weakness at the point where such force is applied.When the tearing has been started then by applying further force to theflange Is at diflerent points the tearing operation may be containuedthroughout the entire length of the line of weakness, which operationwill separate the portion of the closure within the line of weaknessfrom the skirt portion which remains attached or crimped to the bead ofthe body. The under face of the rib or flange l8 constitutes adownwardly facing shoulder against which the prying force is exerted totear the closure along the line of weakness.

Since the line of weakness is not continuous the portion of the closurewithin the line of weakness remains permanently attached to the skirtportion 5 at the non-weakened part 18 and this part II functions as ahinge for connecting the central part of the closure permanently to thecontainer.

Since the line of weakness encircles or is situated outside ofthe-opening I in the top the opening which is made in the closure bytearing it along the line 01' weakness is at least as large as theopening 8 in the top of the container body, and hence when the containeris opened the full opening I in the body portion is available fordischarging the contents." In the type of closure shown in Figs. 1 to 7,which is provided with, the depending circular flange I that flts withinthe opening 8 of the container body, the portion 2i which is situatedwithin the line of weakness constitutes a replaceable cover of the plugtype, since when the container has been opened as shown in Fig. '1 theportion 2| of the closure can be swung downwardly into closing positionwith the flange 1 again fitting within the open end 8 of the body. Theconstruction shown in Figs. 1 to '1 provides a sealed container whichcan be readily opened as above described and which, when opened. isprovided with a hinged cover by which the open top of the container canbe again closed, the opening provided -by carrying the closure along theline of weakness being the full opening of the top of the container. i

In Figs. 8 to 10 I have shown a closure member embodying my inventionwhich is constructed so that the metal of the closure is protectedagainst coming into contact with the contents of' the container.

The container body shown in Figs. 8' to 10 is indicated at I and issimilar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7, it having the bead 4' atits upper end. The closure member is formed with the skirt portion 22which encircles the bead 4 and the lower edge 23 of which is crimpedunderneath the head. The closure is also shown as having an annulargroove 24 to receive the sealing compound 28, this constructionproviding the closure with a sort of sunken panel 28.

The skirt portion 28 is formed'with two ribs 2-1, 28 which are spacedapart slightly and a line of weakness 2! is formed in the zone 38between the ribs 21, 28, said line of weakness extending nearly, but notentirely, around the skirt thereby leaving the portion 3| free from theline of weakness.

' The reference numeral 82 indicates a non-metallic lining for theclosure which covers all of the under face of the closure situatedwithin the annular packing or sealing material 25. The peripheral edgeof this lining 82 is shown as extend! ing into the groove 24 and asbeing covered by the packing material 25.

In order to open a container a suitable implement 88 is inserted betweenthe ribs 21, 28 at some point sufllciently removed from the ends 84, 85of the line of weakness and the tool is manipulated to pry the ribs 21,28 apart, this operation resulting in tearing the closure along the lineof weakness. When the closure has been torn along the entire length ofthe line of weakness the central portion of the closure, comprising thesunken panel portion 28, the grooved portion 24 and the upper part ofthe skirt portion having the rib 21, constitutes a removable andreplaceable cover for the container which, however, is permanentlysecured thereto through the medium of the non-weakened portion 8|.Moreover, with this construction the opening which is provided throughthe closure when it is torn along the line of weakness is at least aslarge as the opening 2 in the top of the container body so that when thecontainer is opened the full opening of the container body is availablefor the discharge oi the contents of the container. In this embodimentof the invention the under face of the. rib 21 constitutes thedownwardly facing shoulder against which the prying force is exerted totear the closure along the line oi weakness.

If the material contained in the container is oi such a nature that itwill be discharged piecemeal, that is, if small portions of the entirecontents are to be removed at diflerent times, the container body may beclosed by the replaceable cover between the times when portion of thecontents of the container are being removed or discharged.

In the construction shown in Figs. 8 v to 10 the opening of thecontainer uncovers the top edge I can be poured out of the containerwithout flowing over any portion of the metal closure which remainsattached to the container body after the container is opened.

The line of weakness 29 may be made in any appropriate way. One waywould be by scoring a separated by narrow portions 38. With thisconstruction, or with the perforated construction, the

'. closure will be weaker along the line of perfosuch as shown in Figs.8 to 11 because the pressituated above the line of weakness.

rations than at other points so that if this line of perforations isformed between the ribs 21, 28 and a suitable implement is used to prythe ribs apart the closure will be torn along the line of perforations,thereby providing the replaceable cover as shown in Fig. 9, it beingunderstood that in order to produce a cover which is permanentlyconnected to the container it will be necessary to so form theperforations or openings as to leave a non-perforated portion 40equivalent to the non-weakened portion 3| in Fig. 10.

The use of a line of weakness formed by perforations or slots ispracticable in a construction ence of the perforations does notinterfere with the hermetic sealing of the container since theperforations are on the outside of the ring of sealing compound.

In Figs. 14 and 15 I have shown an embodiment of the invention. in whichthe line of weakness is in the form of a slit extending nearly aroundthe skirt portion of the closure between the ribs 21, 28. In theconstruction shown in Fig. 14 the closure has the ribs 21, 28 as shownin Fig. 8 and the line of weakness, which is shown at 4!, is in the formof a slit that extends around the skirt portion 22 in the zone 30. Thisslit extends from a point 42 around to a point 43 except for a narrowbridge portion 44. The part of the neck 45 between the points 42, 43constitutes the non-weakened portion of the closure which forms the.hinge after the container has been opened.

In this embodiment the skirt 22 of the closure is provided with a lining46 of tinfoil or similar easily tearable metal, said lining beinganchored to the interior of the skirt above and below the line ofweakness, preferably by being folded into the ribs 21, 28. In opening acontainer having this construction a suitable implement is placedbetween the ribs 21, 28 adjacent the bridge portion 44, and by applyinga prying pressure to the implement tending to pry the ribs 21, 28 apartthe bridge portion 44 will be ruptured. By continuing this pryingoperation the tinfoil or lining member 46 will be'torn along the line ofweakness so that the cover portion of the closure may be swung upwardlyin the open position as indicated in Fig. 9. This lining 46 of tinfoilor its equivalent may be used with the type of closure shown in Figs. 8to 13 if desired.

I have shown herein the neck 4 of the container as being provided with alocking rib 41 This rib 41 cooperates with an annular groove 48 (Fig. 9)with which the upper part of the skirt 22 is provided, such groove beingherein formed at the fold where the rib 21 is made. When the closure istorn along the line of weakness the hinged cover portion 49 which isthereby formed is provided with a short depending flange 50 (Fig. 9),such flange being the portion of the skirt 22 which is above the line ofweakness. a

When the container is closed again, after it has once been opened, theshort flange 5|] snaps over the locking rib 41, the latter snapping intothe groove 48, the short flange thereby locking the cover closed. Therib 41 and groove 48 thus constitute a friction lock for holding thecover closed after the closure has been torn along the line of weakness.

I claim:

1. A container presenting an open-top body having a bead at its upperedge and a closure of sheet metal having a skirt portion crimped to saidbead, said closure having a line of weakness which nearly, but notquite, encircles the open top of the body. said closure also beingformed with a downwardly facing shoulder above the line of weaknesswhereby a prying force applied against said shoulder will tear theclosure along said line of weakness, the portion of the closure withinthe line of weakness then constituting a cover which is permanentlyconnected to the skirt portion by the untorn part between the ends ofthe line of weakness.

2. A container presenting an open-top body having a head at its upperedge and a closure of sheet metal having a skirt portion crimped to saidbead, said closure having a line of weakness which nearly, but notquite, encircles the open top of the body and also being formed with anannular rib above the line of weakness whereby a prying force applied tosaid rib will tear the closure along the line of weakness, the portionof the closure within the line of weakness constituting a replaceablecover having a diameter at least as great as the opening in the top ofthe body portion.

3. A container presenting an open-top body portion provided with a beadat its upper edge' and a closure of sheet metal having a skirt portionencircling and crimped to said bead, said skirt portion being formedwith two annular ribs and the zone between said ribs being provided witha line of weakness whereby when the ribs are pried apart the closure istorn along the line of weakness.

4. A container presenting an open-top body portion provided with a beadat its upper edge and a closure of sheet metal having a skirt por-' tionencircling and crimped to said bead, said skirt portion being formedwith two annular ribs and the zone between said ribs being provided witha line of weakness which extends nearly, but

not entirely around the skirt whereby when the ribs are pried apart theclosure is torn along the whereby when the ribs are pried apart theclosure is torn along the line of weakness, the part of the skirt abovethe line of weakness being formed with an interior groove and thecontainer havingan exterior bead which is received in said groove whenthe container is closed.

6. A container presenting a body portion having an open top and aclosure of sheet metal having a skirt portion encircling the top or thebody and secured thereto, said skirt portion being formed with twoannular ribs and the zone between said ribs being provided with the lineof weakness which extends nearly, but not entirely, around the skirtwhereby when the ribs are pried apart the closure is torn along the lineof weakness, the portion of the closure within the line of weaknessconstituting a cover which is hinged to the anchored part of the skirtby the unweakof easily tearable material which is anchored ened part ofsaid zone, the part of the skirt portion above the line 01' weaknesshaving an interior groove and the container having an exterior closureof sheet metal having a skirt portion encircling and crimped to saidbead, said skirt portion being formed with two annular ribs and the zonebetween said ribs being provided with a. line of weakness whereby whenthe ribs are pried apart the closure is torn along the line of weaknessand said skirt portion having a lining thereto above and below the lineof weakness.

HARRY SEBELL.

